Hill Founder, Merrill, honoured by UNB

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

University of New Brunswick Red Bombers Football retire Peter Merrill’s #12

Saint John, NB - September 20, 2025 - The Hill Academy celebrates alongside the University of New Brunswick Red Bombers Football as they retire our founder Peter Merrill’s #12 jersey.

Merrill, wearing #12, led the UNB Red Bombers as the top passer in Canadian university football in 1969 and 1970. He finished both undefeated seasons with league-high marks in passes, completions, yards gained, and touchdown passes, culminating in back-to-back Atlantic Bowl Championships.

Family and friends joined Merrill on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at the 14th Annual Tony Proudfoot Memorial Game, where the Red Bombers faced the Saint John Falcons.

Years after rewriting the record books for Canadian college football, Merrill co-founded The Hill Academy, an independent school for dedicated student-athletes. Built on the belief that sport is a laboratory for life, The Hill emphasizes that lessons learned on the field can be applied in the classroom and in the community.

To learn more about The Hill Academy, we encourage prospective families to reach out soon to learn more about programs and 2026-27 admissions. Contact admissions@thehillacademy.com now to book a tour.

About The Hill Academy

The Hill Academy was founded in 2006 in order to provide optimal academic and athletic programming for dedicated student-athletes. Located in Caledon, ON, just 45 minutes north of Toronto, The Hill campus sits on 134 acres of beautifully forested land. The campus offers students bright classrooms, daily outdoor education, a state-of-the-art athletic training experience, Hill Performance gym facilities, running and hiking trails, turf field, exclusive off-site rink access, and an expansive boarding complex. 

Graduates from The Hill have been placed in some of the most prestigious academic and athletic institutions in the world. The Hill Academy is an institution for students who are committed to striving academically, and who would like an opportunity to take an in-depth exploration into their respective sport. 

For more information, visit www.thehillacademy.com and follow on social media: Instagram @thehillacademy, X (Twitter) @thehillacademy, and Facebook @thehillacademy1845 

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